The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a public meeting in Athens, Texas, to gather comments on and discuss a recently released draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for managing double-crested cormorants, a migratory waterbird native to North America. The public comment period has been extended until February 28, 2002.
The meeting will be held Monday, February 4, at 7 p.m. at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, 5550 Flat Creek Road (Farm Road 2495). It is one of 10 scheduled across the nation.
The draft EIS analyzes several options for managing rapidly growing cormorant populations in order to reduce conflicts with recreational fishing, commercial aquaculture, other birds and natural resources.
"We encourage the public to attend these meetings or to comment on the draft environmental impact statement in writing. Public input is vital as we craft a management strategy that ensures healthy cormorant populations while reducing conflicts with humans," said Tom Melius, the Service
